Li HaoChen stepped on a steel bar that had just been inserted, drilling another hole 20 centimeters away, repeating this process until noon before stopping to rest.
He had originally planned to finish it all at once, but the drill bit wasn't up to par. Ten drill bits only managed to drill over forty holes. Upon inspection, he had only made about ten meters. Looking at the remaining over two hundred meters of cliff ahead, he felt a pang of dread.
There was no other way; the rock was too hard and wore out the drill bits.
"It seems not everyone can think of this method. This wear-and-tear method would cost a lot just for the drill bits, not to mention the steel materials for building the bridge. The entire journey would cost at least two hundred thousand."
Li HaoChen was playing a grand game, a Sangki model that could combine his space with reality. Butterfly Bay was an important base for him to achieve this plan.
"If I were to transform Butterfly Bay according to my own ideas, it would cost at least tens of millions." Thinking of the money, Li HaoChen could only smile wryly and shake his head.
He packed up his tools and placed them inside the gate. There was no need to take them back, and there was a small cover, so they wouldn't be affected by rain.
He hurried to the administrative center to complete the relevant procedures. Since it wasn't a scenic spot, the process was relatively simple, especially with Xie Baolian's help. After going through a few departments, everything was done by the afternoon.
Back home, Li HaoChen went to Huang Haibo's shop again to order several hundred cold-drawn round steel bars, 2 centimeters in diameter and one meter long, spending several thousand more yuan.
Huang Haibo was also curious but too embarrassed to ask, itching to know.
"By the way, Uncle Bo, I need to ask you something."
"Oh, what is it? Tell me."
"I want to ask if you know anyone who can undertake sea reclamation engineering?"
"Sea reclamation?" Huang Haibo was startled.
"Yes, not what you're imagining. It's similar to oyster and fish farms, just enclosing a certain area by driving in some sturdy piles and then netting it."
"Phew, you scared me. Our family does this kind of work. The oyster farms in the village's ring mouth were all done by us. I'm not bragging, but they can withstand winds and waves of level twelve without a problem. The quality is top-notch." Huang Haibo began to praise his own work.
Huang Haibo seemed to remember something and looked at Li HaoChen as if he were a monster. "HaoChen, you're not thinking of enclosing Butterfly Bay, are you?"
"That's the plan, hehe!" Li HaoChen scratched his head and smiled sheepishly.
"Hiss~"
Huang Haibo took a cold breath, finding it hard to understand Li HaoChen. This was not a matter of tens of thousands, but hundreds of thousands, or even millions of dollars. Did he have that much money?
While Huang Haibo was puzzled, he was also calculating. If it were true, he could retire early after taking on this project.
"HaoChen, tell me honestly, are you serious about doing this, or are you joking?" Huang Haibo suddenly became serious and asked cautiously.
"To be honest, I will definitely enclose it, but the funds are insufficient now, and it will have to wait for some time."
Upon hearing the latter part, Huang Haibo immediately lost interest, thinking, "Wait for some time? This 'wait' could turn into an eternity." However, Li HaoChen's next words reignited his interest.
"Uncle Bo, the sea enclosure project can wait. There's an immediate project. Are you interested?"
Huang Haibo's eyes immediately lit up, and he said with a smile, "Of course I'm interested if there's work. Tell me."
"I want to build a boardwalk at the entrance of Butterfly Bay to the inner bay." Li HaoChen had already thought of it. Professional matters should be handled by professionals. If he messed around blindly, he didn't know when it would be completed, and not only would it waste time and money, but more importantly, safety would not be guaranteed.
Huang Haibo's mouth twitched again. He looked at Li HaoChen, struggling internally. "HaoChen, Uncle doesn't want you to throw your money into the sea. Do you think you're the only one who thought of this? Before you, many people rented Butterfly Bay with the same idea, but why did none of them implement it?"
Li HaoChen shook his head and said sincerely, "Uncle Bo, please tell me."
"With current scientific and technological means, these cliffs and steep slopes are nothing. The key is the money. Building a road of a few hundred meters would cost at least several hundred thousand, plus the rent. Don't look at the abundant conches, fish, and crabs inside; they can only last for one wave. So many fishing boats come and go outside the bay every day. How many seafood can swim in? Those bosses are very shrewd; they've calculated it countless times. If there were profits to be made, it wouldn't be your turn."
Although Huang Haibo wanted to make money, the principle of a gentleman earning wealth through proper means was his code of conduct, so he explained the pros and cons of Butterfly Bay to Li HaoChen.
An ordinary person would definitely be discouraged by this, but was Li HaoChen an ordinary person? He was a man who possessed a spatial ocean, and his idea was not to catch fish and sell them within Butterfly Bay.
"Uncle Bo, thank you so much for telling me this, but I still want to build this boardwalk. Will you take it?" Li HaoChen was very grateful to Huang Haibo. With such words, his character was definitely not bad, so he decided to entrust this project, including the subsequent sea enclosure project, to him.
Huang Haibo hesitated for a moment and then agreed. "Since you've made up your mind, I won't say anything more. Alright, I'll take this project. However, this is a favor, but Uncle also needs to make a living. I can't advance tens of thousands for this. I hope you can understand."
"I understand, I understand. Uncle, how about this? You first do a cost estimate to see how much it will cost to complete the boardwalk, and then we'll discuss the next steps?"
"Hehe, HaoChen, no need for an estimate. I did a cost estimate two years ago, but that boss never followed up, so it was dropped. Wait for me." With that, Huang Haibo went into the inner room.
A short while later, Huang Haibo came out with a slightly yellowed cost estimate plan and placed it in front of Li HaoChen. "HaoChen, take a look. The calculations inside are very clear. There might be a slight difference in the length of the boardwalk, as I haven't been inside. Also, material prices have increased a lot, so this price is likely to increase by 5%."
Li HaoChen looked very carefully, and Huang Haibo's estimate also included a design drawing of the boardwalk. Li HaoChen liked this style very much, and the price was not outrageous, 360,000 yuan, which was acceptable.
After considering it, Li HaoChen accepted the plan. "Uncle Bo, let's proceed with your plan. I'll transfer 100,000 yuan to you as a deposit. I'll pay the remaining amount after completion. Is that okay?"
Huang Haibo nodded, walked to the computer, and typed for a while. The engineering contract was printed out. Li HaoChen looked it over and found no issues. After both parties signed, it became formally effective.
"Uncle, can we start the work this afternoon?"
"HaoChen, why the rush? This is a significant amount of work, and the steel needs to be procured. Also, we need to perform a ritual before starting. How about tomorrow morning? Hehe!"
"Uh, I was too eager. Then, as you said, I'll prepare the items for the ritual tomorrow morning. Please bear with me if there are any rules, as I'm young and don't know much."
Leaving Huang Haibo's shop, Li HaoChen smiled wryly again. "Alright, this time I'm really penniless."